The New Jersey Division on Civil Rights recently modified its proposed regulation regarding disparate impact claims based on a comment that I submitted earlier this year. On June 3, 2024 the DCR initially proposed the new regulation to addresses disparate impact claims under the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (“LAD”). …
Articles Posted in employment law
Court Reinstates Employee’s Retaliation Lawsuit, Finding Employer Could Have Identified Her as Anonymous Whistleblower
A new decision from New Jersey’s Appellate Division recognizes that an employer can be liable for retaliating against an employee who filed an anonymous whistleblower complaint if the evidence supports the inference that it could have realized she was the one who filed the complaint. For 14 years, Carol Smith…
New Jersey Court Analyzes Time Off as Reasonable Accommodation for Disability
Under the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (“LAD”), time off can be a reasonable accommodation for a disability as long as the time off sought is reasonable. A recent decision from the District of New Jersey provides a good example of how Courts analyze this issue at the early stage…
Supreme Court Makes it Easier to Receive Accommodations for Religious Beliefs
Last month, the United States Supreme Court made it easier for employees to prove a claim that their employer failed to accommodate an employee’s religious beliefs under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Gerald Groff worked for the United States Postal Service (“USPS”). Mr. Groff is an…
Working Through Independent Business Not Enough to Make Employees into Independent Contractors
Yesterday, the New Jersey Supreme Court clarified the “ABC test” used to determine if a worker is an employee or an independent contractor. Specifically, it made it clear that just because someone works through their business is not enough to make them an independent contractor. The case began with a…
No Protection to Employee Fired for Racist Remarks on Facebook
A recent opinion by New Jersey’s Appellate Division finds that an employee cannot bring a retaliation claim against a private employer for firing her for posting racially insensitive statements on Facebook. Heather J. McVey was a Corporate Director of Customer Service for AtlantiCare Medical System Incorporated and Geisinger Health System…
Police Captain Can Pursue Harassment in Retaliation for Objection to Illegal Arrest Quota System
A recent decision from New Jersey’s Appellate Division recognizes it can be retaliation in violation of the Conscientious Employee Protection Act (“CEPA”) for a police department to harass one of its members because he objected to a new policy he reasonably believed is an illegal arrest quota system. Calvin Anderson…
New Law Bans Forced Arbitration of Sexual Harassment and Assault Claims
Arbitration is widely believed to favor big business over individuals. I have written numerous articles about forced arbitration, including cases that enforced arbitration of employment law claims, and ones that overturned such provisions. In my law practice, I have fought against forced arbitration on many occasions. Yesterday, President Biden signed…
New York State Finally Enacts Broad Whistleblower Law
On October 28, 2021, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed in law an amendment to New York’s Whistleblower law, Labor Law Sections 740 and 741. Prior to this amendment, New York’s Whistleblower Law has been very narrow and provided very limited protection. That will change when the amendment goes into…
Court Must Reconsider Whether Sexual Harassment Victim Agreed to Arbitration
A recent decision by New Jersey’s Appellate Division makes it clear that a court must have clear proof an employee agreed to arbitration before an employer can force an employee to arbitrate her case. Nikki Cordero applied for a job with Fitness International, LLC, also known as LA Fitness International. …